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Harvest close to half done in North West region

Nearing the middle of September, producers in the North West region, including the Battlefords and Meadow Lake area, are reporting they have close to half their crop harvested now.

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture crops extension specialist, Matthew Struthers, said the area is sitting at 47 per cent in the bin.

“That’s up from 28 per cent last week, and actually it’s well ahead of their five-year average of 27 per cent,” he said. “They started a little bit slow there, just due to the weather they were having. But now that it’s dried out and the crops have dried down they have made quick work of it.”

While there were a few challenges in parts, farmers are making the best of it. The expert said some of the grain is coming off a bit damp or tough, due to excess moisture. But producers are putting it in their dryers and aeration bins so they are able to store it properly.

Crop grades are looking good overall in the region. Yields are also strong where fields had sufficient rains in the growing period this year.

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Sclerotinia and Lygus in Seed Canola: Field Update with George Lubberts, CCA | Enchant, Alberta

Video: Sclerotinia and Lygus in Seed Canola: Field Update with George Lubberts, CCA | Enchant, Alberta

Join Certified Crop Advisor George Lubberts for this Prairie Certified Crop Advisor (Prairie CCA) field update from Enchant, Alberta. In this 12th video of the series, George takes us into a seed canola field where the male rows have been removed and the female plants are filling pods. This video was taken in the third week of August 2025.

George discusses the early signs of sclerotinia stem rot, explaining how infection begins in the stem, impacts pod development, and leads to premature ripening. He also shares insights on lygus bug management, including timing of spray applications to minimize feeding damage and maintain seed size and quality.

With cool, damp summer conditions, George notes that while disease pressure is present, overall field health remains good. The crop is just beginning to show early seed colour change, signaling progress toward maturity.

Topics Covered:

•Sclerotinia stem rot identification and impact

•Managing lygus bugs in seed canola

•Crop stage and seed colour change observations

•Timing insecticide sprays for optimal protection

•Insights from a CCA field perspective in southern Alberta